Updating page...Circular Walks From Sampford Brett
All walks start from the Village Hall car park, which is located just past the Church, on the left-hand side of the road opposite the Village Hall.
The walks are not suitable for wheelchairs.
Dog walkers are asked to respect the farmers by keeping their dogs under control at all times and to use the dog bin which is situated on the wall of the Old Rectory, half way down the main street of the village.
Walk 1 - Sampford Brett, Woolston, Cottiford, Providence, Sampford Brett
Distance: 2 Miles Time: 1 hour
Leave the car park and turn left along the road until the first bend by Brook House. Go through the kissing-gate to the left of Brook House and take the path to the left that follows the stream [WL 20/1]. Cross the bridge over the stream go through the kissing gate and follow the path across the field [WL 1/35]. At the end, climb the stile, and turn left following the track a short distance to the road. At the road, turn right and follow it through the hamlet of Woolston, always being aware of traffic. On leaving the hamlet going up the hill over the West Somerset Railway line note the former platelayers hut which resembles a small station. This is now a private residence. Continue to follow the road across Woolston Moor, once the site for travellers and a camp for soldiers during the war. After passing the telephone box take the road to the right, signposted Stogumber and Vellow. This can be a busy road, do take care. Follow the road over the railway line and past the farm of Cottiford. Continue along this until the road makes a right-angled turn to the left to Vellow and Stogumber. Turn right at this point, signposted Monksilver, and after a few yards leave the metalled road and take the bridleway straight ahead. On the left is a farm building. This was the site of a cottage which was burnt down. Consequently this bridleway is known locally as Burnt Down Lane, although the maps show it as Cottiford Lane [WL 20/9].
Where the track widens, close to a pylon, leave the track and take the footpath to the right straight across the field [WL 20/2]. Pass through the kissing gate and climb the short path, (it is steep and can be slippery!), through the copse and on past Providence, a former mill and later a pumping station. Follow this track beside the Doniford stream, past Providence Way all the way back to Sampford Brett where the path rejoins the road at Brook House via two kissing gates. The car park is a few yards along this road on the right opposite the Village Hall.
Walk 2 - Sampford Brett, Aller, Capton, Sampford Brett
Distance: 2 miles Time: 1hour
Leave the car park and turn right along the road to the junction by the Church. On the left is the former Village school and Schoolhouse, now private residences. Notice the Coat of arms of Sir Fuller-Acland-Hood on the wall; he was the benefactor of the school. At the junction turn left and follow the road through the village, this is known as The Street.
At the end notice the building known as Sampford House with its blocked window.
Follow the road straight ahead, signed as a No Through Road. After passing Brook Cottage turn right at the entrance to Manor Farm where a finger post indicates Aller Farm. There is also a Coleridge Way (a quill feather logo) sign here. Keep straight ahead and go through the gate with a barn on the right. Follow this path along the bottom edge of the field. This is known as Church Path [WL20/4]. Turn right through the kissing gate and then left past the stream and follow the sign towards the wood.
Go through the gate and follow the path through the woods which is a little steep in places and can be slippery when wet. At the T-junction turn left along Aller Lane [WL 20/17].
Along this path there is a wooden bridge with an interesting notice to travellers on it.
At the kissing gate at the end of Aller Lane turn left downhill towards Capton [WL 20/16]. At this point the route leaves the Coleridge Way. This track becomes a metalled road which leads uphill into the hamlet of Capton. On the ninety degree left turn there is a farm on the left known as Capton Farm. It was here that a descendant of the cricketer J. C. �Farmer� White lives. White played for, and captained, Somerset and England reaching his peak in the late 1920s.
Immediately after passing the last thatched cottage on the left (Inglenook) turn left over the stone stile onto a path that leads to a stone track. Turn left and after a short time bear right diagonally across the field [WL 22/5]. At the end of this path continue through the next field with the hedge on the left. Go over the stile and straight across the next field which gives a view of the village church.
Cross the stile and turn right down the track [WL 20/3]. After a while this track is concreted. This was done fairly recently by the Council to prevent erosion and flooding which has troubled this spot in the past. Notice the wire cages filled with stone built to hols the bank back on the right. The track comes out at Manor Farm where the road will lead back to the village. Head straight down the main street and turn right at the church. The car park is on the left opposite the Village Hall.
Walk 3. Sampford Brett, Manor Farm, Aller, Capton, Sampford Brett
Distance 3 miles
Time 1� hours.
Leave the car park and turn right along the road to the junction by the Church. On the left is the former Village school and Schoolhouse, now private residences. Notice the Coat of arms of Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood on the wall; he was the benefactor of the school. Also of interest is the evidence of early romantic graffiti on the school door.
At the junction turn left and follow the road through the village, this is known as The Street.
At the end notice the building known as Sampford House with its blocked window. Follow the road straight ahead, signed as a No Through Road. After passing Brook Cottage turn right at the entrance to Manor Farm where a finger post indicates Aller Farm. There is also a Coleridge Way (a quill feather logo) sign here. Keep straight ahead and go through the gate with a barn on the right. Follow this path along the bottom edge of the field. This is known as Church Path [WL20/4].
Turn right through the kissing gate and then left past the stream and follow the sign towards the wood.
Go through the gate and follow the path through the woods which is a little steep in places. At the T-junction turn left along Aller Lane [WL 20/17]. Along this path there is a wooden bridge with an interesting notice to travellers on it.
At the end of Aller Lane turn right on the track signed to Monksilver, past Aller Farm [WL 20/16] and left at the T-junction still following the Coleridge Way. Continue past the barns and follow the track as it bends round to the left. In the distance on the left is Capton Quarry, still used for red sandstone. There is also a glimpse of Jacobs Pond on the left across the fields. This area was used for open cast mining of Iron Ore back in Roman times.
At this point there is a choice.
Option A. - At the end of the track continue straight on across the field heading for the wood on the opposite side. At the entrance to this wood there is a finger post leading to a path through the woods. This area can become overgrown and difficult to find. At the finger post take the bridleway to the left [WL 15/13], marked with the Coleridge Way logo.
Option B. - Follow the Coleridge Way sign at the end of the track by turning right up the hill, quite a pull, and left and left again. As the path runs beside a wood notice the deer lookout � a seat on top of a ladder. Turn right then immediately left to pick up the bridleway [WL 15/13], marked with the Coleridge Way logo.
This track leads out onto the road running between Monksilver and Capton. The bridleway is about � long and is sunken in places. At the end where the Bridleway meets the road at Beech Tree Cross turn left along the road, but do watch out for traffic!
There are two cottages on the left known as Jacobs Pond. Go straight on at the next junction, signed Capton and Sampford Brett. At the next junction turn left downhill towards the hamlet of Capton. Turn right just before the first building on the right, through the gate and follow the stony path for a short while and then pick up the footpath across the corner of a field on the right [WL 22/5]. At the end of this path continue through the next field with the hedge on the left. Go over the stile and straight across the next field. Cross the stile and turn right down the track [WL 20/3]. After a while this track is concreted. This was done fairly recently by the District Council to prevent erosion and flooding which has troubled this spot in the past. The track comes out at Manor Farm where the road will lead back to the village. At the cross-roads continue straight ahead down the main street. The Church is at the bottom of the street, turn right here and the car park is a few yards on the left opposite the Village Hall.
As a quick fix to save editing time, the next walks are in PDF format :
Walk 4. Sampford Brett, Aller, Williton, Sampford Brett
Distance 2 miles
Time 1 hours
Walk 5. Sampford Brett, Aller, Vellow Wood, Sampford Brett
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 2 hours
Walk 6 . Sampford Brett, Williton, Sampford Brett
Distance 2 miles
Time 1 hour
Walk.7. Sampford Brett, Woolston, Luckes Lane, Highbridge, Williton, Sampford Brett
Distance 2 miles
Time 1 hours